Foldable sealing container

ABSTRACT

A foldable sealing container is provided with cuts, creases, adhesion of some elements, and a planar collapsed position to permit rapid reconfiguration to an expanded position. A plurality of catching mechanisms comprises friction tabs partially folded along friction tab creases to engage friction tab edges with side panels and hold the bottom side panels substantially perpendicular relative to the bottom panel. The plurality of catching mechanisms holds bottom side panels in a substantially upright position to form leak-proof seals at the lower corners. Engagement of the friction tab catching mechanisms provides enhanced leak resistance, improving storage and transportation of liquids and liquid-containing foods.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 63/218,842 filed Jul. 6, 2021, which application is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed generally to a foldable container, andmore particularly to a leak-proof container engineered to improvecontainment of liquids and liquid-containing foods.

Technology in the Field of the Invention

Assembly, storage, and transportation of foods presents challenges toretail food service businesses, meal service providers, deliverypersonnel, and food consumers. This is particularly true for foodscoated with liquid toppings, including icing, dressing, sauce, cheese,butter, etc., and foods containing liquids, including stews, soups,pudding, etc. The liquids may range in viscosity, density,hydrophobicity, and other characteristics and are challenging to containin portable, foldable containers.

Container systems of the prior art are often “knockdown” cartons with“knockdown” lids, enabling an assembled container to be collapsed orflattened for storage and transportation. Such “knockdown” containersoften include foldable corner panels or tri-paneled folding walls topermit reconfiguration between a planar collapsed position and athree-dimensional expanded position. These containers are relativelyeasy to manufacture from unitary blanks, but are generally notleak-proof because liquid leaks out when side walls fall inward towardthe internal cavity of the container. The addition of extra features,including flaps or gussets, to hold the side walls substantially uprightand thereby prevent leaks increases the cost of each container. Theaddition of slits for flaps to tuck into in order to hold the side wallssubstantially upright compromises the ability of the container tocontain liquids by introducing holes through which liquids may escape.

Accordingly, there is a need for a cost-effective, leak-proof, foldablecontainer designed to contain liquids and liquid-containing foodswithout spillage.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an exemplary container embodying the principles of the presentinvention, a unitary paperboard blank is cut, creased, folded alongselected creases, and adhered along selected elements, therebyreconfiguring the container from an unfolded planar position to a planarcollapsed position. The planar collapsed position achieves desirablestorage and transportation economies. Such exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention comprises an expanded position. The expanded positionmay include either an expanded open position for filling with fooditems, or an expanded closed position for storage and transportation ofthe food contents. This exemplary embodiment includes a plurality ofcatching mechanisms comprising friction tabs partially folded alongfriction tab creases to engage friction tab edges with side panels,disposing the side panels in a substantially upright position andforming leak-proof seals at the bottom corners of the container toovercome the limitations in the art detailed above.

In some embodiments, the container comprises a container bottom, whereinthe container bottom comprises a bottom panel, a bottom front panel, abottom back panel, a pair of bottom side panels, and a plurality ofcatching mechanisms. In some embodiments, engagement of the plurality ofcatching mechanisms holds the bottom side panels substantiallyperpendicular relative to the bottom panel and in a substantiallyupright position. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of catchingmechanisms comprises a friction tab, a friction tab crease, and afriction tab edge.

In some embodiments, an expanded position comprises each of the frictiontabs folded along each of the friction tab creases and each of thefriction tab edges engaged with the bottom side panels, holding thebottom side panels substantially perpendicular relative to the bottompanel and in a substantially upright position. In some embodiments, thebottom front panel comprises a pair of friction tabs. In someembodiments, the bottom back panel comprises a pair of friction tabs. Insome embodiments, the container bottom comprises a pair of frontfoldable corner panels and a pair of back foldable corner panels.

In some embodiments, the container comprises a lid, wherein the lidcomprises a lid top panel, a lid front panel, a pair of lid side panels,a pair of lid foldable corner panels, and a pair of lid front panelflaps. In some embodiments, the lid is hingedly attached to thecontainer bottom. In some embodiments, the lid comprises a lid top panelwindow.

In accordance with the invention, blanks of diverse sizes, shapes,materials, and coatings may be used to manufacture foldable sealingcontainers of diverse sizes and shapes, within the ambit of theinventive attributes described herein, to meet the needs of various foodservice industries. For example, embodiments of the foldable sealingcontainer may be of such size and shape to fit inside another foodcontainer, including boxes designed to contain pizzas, cakes, donuts,bagels, or other foods. Alternative embodiments may be of such size andshape to receive one or more portions of food from a hot bar, delicounter, restaurant, or other food service establishment. Alternativeembodiments may be adapted for ease of use and portability, for examplefor food service at airport kiosks and drive-thru windows and aboardmoving vessels such as trains, airplanes, buses, or other forms oftransportation.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the paperboard blanks arecomposed of standard solid bleached sulfate (SBS). In additionalembodiments the paperboard blanks are unbleached but alternativelytreated to create printable and wet-resistant materials suitable for usein the food service industry. In additional embodiments of theinvention, the blanks are composed of containerboard, including bothlinerboard and corrugating medium, which may be double-walled, bleached,or treated and may exhibit alternative fluting sizes and directions.Alternative embodiments may exhibit alternative stiffness-to-weightratios as well as alternative properties of oil- and grease-resistance,moisture and temperature resistance, printing, texturing, coloring, andsustainability and repulping. Alternative embodiments may include squareand rectangular panels, and a lid top panel window of varying sizes andshapes. Alternative embodiments may include a window film composed ofpolypropylene, acetate, or other material demonstrated effective in thecontainer industry. Furthermore, particular embodiments within theinventive concepts described herein may include printing on the blanks,to include graphical or written descriptions of proper usage includingengagement of the plurality of catching mechanisms by folding thefriction tabs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new, leak-proofcontainer to allow economical and efficient manufacturing, storage, andtransportation of containers themselves. It is another object of thepresent invention to provide a mess-free, leak-proof container designedfor storage and transportation of liquids and liquid-containing foods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The unique attributes of the foldable, sealing container are presentedin a detailed exemplary embodiment below. Chiefly, the apparatusdescribed in this application is designed to contain liquids andliquid-containing foods and enable rapid reconfiguration from the planarcollapsed position to the expanded position. The present invention isnot intended to be limited to the subject matter and exemplaryembodiments presently disclosed, and modifications and other embodimentsthat will come to mind to one skilled in the art having the benefit ofthe teachings presently disclosed are within the scope of thisdisclosure. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis insteadbeing placed upon illustrating the principles of the apparatus andmethods described herein. In these drawings, like reference numeralsidentify corresponding elements.

Embodiments of the present invention are better understood from thefollowing detailed description with reference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an exemplary container in its unfoldedplanar position.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1B in theexpanded closed position after it has been fully reconfigured into athree-dimensional container.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1A in its planarcollapsed position where some elements have been folded and adhered.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 2A showingpartial folding and unfolding along various creases to expand thecontainer from the planar collapsed position.

FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 2B showingfurther partial folding and unfolding along various creases to furtherexpand the container from the collapsed position.

FIG. 2D is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 2C showingfurther partial folding and unfolding along various creases to furtherexpand the container from the planar collapsed position.

FIG. 2E is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 2D after it hasbeen optimally unfolded and folded to expand the container from itsplanar collapsed position depicted in FIG. 2A to its expanded openposition ready for receiving food contents.

FIG. 3A is an isolation exterior perspective view of a first corner ofthe container of FIG. 2E showing a first friction tab fully unfoldedalong a first friction tab crease.

FIG. 3B is an isolation exterior perspective view of the corner of FIG.3A of the container of FIG. 2E showing a first catching mechanismwherein the first friction tab is partially folded along the firstfriction tab crease to engage a side panel with a first friction tabedge.

FIG. 4A is an isolation exterior perspective view of second corner ofthe container of FIG. 2E showing a second friction tab fully unfoldedalong a second friction tab crease.

FIG. 4B is an isolation exterior perspective view of the second cornerof FIG. 4A of the container of FIG. 2E showing a second catchingmechanism wherein the second friction tab is partially folded along thesecond friction tab crease to engage a side panel with a second frictiontab edge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

As depicted in FIG. 1A, in an exemplary embodiment the container is inan unfolded planar position. The container is formed from a unitarypaperboard blank that is cut, creased, and slitted to form elements thatfacilitate reconfiguration to a planar collapsed position, an expandedopen position, and an expanded closed position. Creases join bottompanel 11 to bottom side panels 19 a and 19 b, and creases join bottompanel 11 to bottom front panel 17 and to bottom back panel 21.

Front foldable corner panel 14 a connects bottom side panel 19 a tobottom front panel 17, and front foldable corner panel 14 b connectsbottom side panel 19 b to bottom front panel 17. Creases join frontfoldable corner panels 14 a and 14 b to bottom side panels 19 a and 19b, respectively, and creases join front foldable corner panels 14 a and14 b to bottom front panel 17. Back foldable corner panel 16 a connectsbottom side panel 19 a to bottom back panel 21, and back foldable cornerpanel 16 b connects bottom side panel 19 b to bottom back panel 21.Creases join back foldable corner panels 16 a and 16 b to bottom sidepanels 19 a and 19 b, respectively, and creases join back foldablecorner panels 16 a and 16 b to bottom back panel 21. The containerbottom comprises bottom panel 11, bottom front panel 17, bottom backpanel 21, a pair of bottom side panels, namely bottom side panels 19 aand 19 b, a pair of front foldable corner panels, namely front foldablecorner panels 14 a and 14 b, and a pair of back foldable corner panels,namely back foldable corner panels 16 a and 16 b.

In this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a lid is alsoformed from the unitary paperboard blank and connected to the containerbottom. Creases join lid top panel 13 to lid side panels 23 a and 23 b,and creases join lid panel 13 to lid front panel 25 and bottom backpanel 21. Lid side panels 23 a and 23 b comprise lid foldable cornerpanels 18 a and 18 b, respectively. Creases join lid front panel 25 tolid front panel flaps 27 a and 27 b, which are separated from lidfoldable corner panels 18 a and 18 b, respectively. The lid compriseslid top panel 13, lid front panel 25, a pair of lid side panels, namelylid side panels 23 a and 23 b, a pair of lid foldable corner panels,namely lid foldable corner panels 18 a and 18 b, and a pair of lid frontpanel flaps, namely lid front panel flaps 27 a and 27 b. The lid mayalso comprise lid top panel window 15.

Creases may be deep and narrow, enabling foldable connections betweenelements and resulting in low folding resistance and accurate foldingoperations. Alternative embodiments of the present invention anticipatedherein include creases of varying width and depth, and may includecreases, score lines, or combinations thereof, where the score lines mayhave ratios of penetration between about 0.1 and 0.9. Alternativeembodiments may include creases of varying patterning, orientation tothe paperboard fiber direction, and combinations thereof to optimize thecreasing operation to facilitate folding operations.

The container bottom comprises a plurality of catching mechanisms. Eachof the plurality of catching mechanisms comprises a friction tab, afriction tab crease, and a friction tab edge. In an exemplaryembodiment, the bottom front panel comprises a pair of friction tabs. Atop edge 22 of bottom front panel 17 includes friction tabs 10 a and 10b, where friction tab 10 a is adjacent to and separated from frontfoldable corner panel 14 a, and friction tab 10 b is adjacent to andseparated from front foldable corner panel 14 b. Friction tab creases 12a and 12 b join friction tab 10 a and 10 b, respectively, to bottomfront panel 17. Friction tab edges 20 a and 20 b separate friction tabsfrom bottom front panel 17 and are formed by cuts in the paperboardblank. Friction tab edge 20 a separates friction tab 10 a from bottomfront panel 17 and front foldable corner panel 14 a, and friction tabedge 20 b separates friction tab 10 b from bottom front panel 17 andfront foldable corner panel 14 b.

In this embodiment, friction tabs 10 a and 10 b are triangular.Alternative embodiments of the present invention may exhibit frictiontabs of varying shape, including triangles of varying interior angles.Alternative embodiments of the present invention may exhibit frictiontab creases and friction tab edges of varying curvature and length,including linear and non-linear curves.

As depicted in FIG. 1A, an exemplary embodiment includes lid top panelwindow 15 within lid top panel 13. In this embodiment, lid top panelwindow 15 is a square with rounded corners and is centered within lidtop panel 13. In embodiments of the present invention, a window film isinstalled on the surface of lid top panel 13 that is proximal to theinterior of the three-dimensional container when it is in the expandedposition. In alternative embodiments, a window film is installed on thesurface of lid top panel 13 that is distal to the interior of thethree-dimensional container when it is in the expanded position. Thewindow film may be made of polypropylene, acetate, polyester, or anyother material reasonably anticipated by one skilled in the art. Thewindow film may be installed using staples, adhesives, includingpolyvinyl acetate and hot melt adhesives, or any bonding agentdemonstrated effective in the container industry. Alternativeembodiments anticipated herein may include one or more top windows andwindow films of varying sizes, shapes, and materials, including customdesigns, circles, triangles, rectangles, stars, diamonds, ovals,semicircles, hearts, hexagons, pentagons, trapezoids, crosses,crescents, parallelograms, octagons, and combinations thereof.Alternative embodiments may include one or more top windows in asymmetrical, asymmetrical, or off-center configuration. Alternativeembodiments may include a lid top panel 13 in which no window ispresent.

In FIG. 1B, the embodiment of FIG. 1A is depicted in its expanded closedposition as a fully assembled, three-dimensional container whereininternal cavity 29 is formed. The expanded closed position is formedwhen the container in the unfolded planar position is reconfigured toits planar collapsed position by folding and adhering some elements,then the planar collapsed position is reconfigured to its expandedclosed position. Internal cavity 29 is defined by bottom panel 11,bottom back panel 21, lid top panel 13, front panels (both bottom frontpanel 17 and lid front panel 25), and side panels (both bottom sidepanels 19 a and 19 b and lid side panels 23 a and 23 b).

In FIG. 2A, the embodiment of FIG. 1A has been reconfigured to itsplanar collapsed position by folding and adhering some elements. Theplanar collapsed position achieves desirable transportation and storageeconomies, and may be expanded rapidly, filled with food items, andtransferred to consumers either in a food service location or by adelivery service with minimal space requirements and maximal protectionof food contents. As depicted in FIG. 2A, bottom back panel 21 connectslid top panel 13 to bottom panel 11, and adhered and folded elements arelocated between lid top panel 13 and bottom panel 11. Lid top panel 13is hingedly attached to bottom back panel 21.

Referring now to FIGS. 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E, a user may unfold the planarcollapsed container by lifting the lid and unfolding certain foldedelements to reconfigure the container from the planar collapsed positionto the expanded open position.

As depicted in FIGS. 2C and 2D, lid side panels 23 a and 23 b and lidfront panel 25 unfold from lid top panel 13, and lid foldable cornerpanels 18 a and 18 b unfold and connect each lid side panel-lid frontpanel pair so that top foldable corner panels and adhered lid frontpanel flaps 27 a and 27 b form gussets to strengthen each lid corner.Bottom side panels 19 a and 19 b, bottom back panel 21, and bottom frontpanel 17 unfold from bottom panel 11. Front foldable corner panels 14 aand 14 b unfold and connect each bottom side panel-bottom front panelpair so that front foldable corner panels form gussets to strengtheneach bottom front corner. Back foldable corner panels 16 a and 16 bunfold and connect each bottom side panel-bottom back panel pair so thatback foldable corner panels form gussets to strengthen each bottom backcorner.

As depicted in FIG. 2E, the container is in the expanded open positionwherein each of the friction tabs is folded along each of the frictiontab creases and each of the friction tab edges is engaged with thebottom side panels, holding the bottom side panels substantiallyperpendicular relative to the bottom panel and in a substantiallyupright position. Internal cavity 29 is formed and may receive one ormore objects, including liquids or liquid-containing foods, for storage,transportation, or a combination thereof. Friction tabs 10 a and 10 bare partially folded along friction tab creases 12 a and 12 b,respectively, inward toward internal cavity 29. Catching mechanisms atbottom front upper corners 31 a and 31 b comprise engagement of frictiontab edges 20 a and 20 b, respectively, with bottom side panels 19 a and19 b, respectively. The catching mechanisms hold bottom side panels 19 aand 19 b substantially perpendicular relative to bottom panel 11 and ina substantially upright position. In this position, bottom front lowercorners 33 a and 33 b and bottom back lower corners 35 a and 35 b aresealed, preventing leakage of liquid contents from internal cavity 29.

A user may reconfigure the container from the expanded open positiondepicted in FIG. 2E to the expanded closed position depicted in FIG. 1Bby lowering the lid using a hinging mechanism along the creaseconnecting lid top panel 13 to bottom back panel 21. In this exemplaryembodiment, when the lid is lowered fully and the container is in theexpanded closed position, the lid front panel 25 is adjacent to bottomfront panel 17, the lid side panel 23 a is adjacent to bottom side panel19 a, and the lid side panel 23 b is adjacent to bottom side panel 19 b.Bottom front panel 17, bottom side panel 19 a, and bottom side panel 19b are proximal to internal cavity 29, and lid front panel 25, lid sidepanel 23 a, and lid side panel 23 b are distal to internal cavity 29.

In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 1B, lid top panel 13 andbottom panel 11 are square shaped and bottom front panel 17, bottom backpanel 21, lid front panel 25, bottom side panels 19 a and 19 b, and lidside panels 23 a and 23 b are rectangular. In alternative embodimentsanticipated herein, all panels may be varying sizes and shapes,including square and rectangular, and the container may be varying sizesand shapes.

In an alternative embodiment, the container may function as a leak-prooftray without an attached lid. In this alternative embodiment, the lid isnot attached, and lid top panel 13, lid side panels 23 a and 23 b, lidfront panel 25, lid foldable corner panels 18 a and 18 b, and lid frontpanel flaps 27 a and 27 b are omitted. In this alternative embodiment,separate, unattached lids of varying sizes and shapes may be paired withthe leak-proof tray for enhanced portability and stacking.

In alternative embodiments anticipated herein, bottom back panel 21 mayalso include catching mechanisms, including a pair of friction tabs withfriction tab creases and friction tab edges to further engage bottomside panels 19 a and 19 b and hold them in a substantially uprightposition. These back panel friction tabs may further hold side panels 19a and 19 b substantially perpendicular relative to bottom panel 11 andin a substantially upright position so that bottom front lower corners33 a and 33 b and bottom back lower corners 35 a and 35 b are sealed,preventing leakage of liquid contents from internal cavity 29.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a first corner of an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention is depicted. In FIG. 3A, frictiontab 10 a is not folded along friction tab crease 12 a and top edge 22maintains an unbroken, linear configuration at the first corner. In thisconfiguration, the catching mechanism at bottom front upper corner 31 ais not engaged, bottom side panel 19 a falls slightly inward towardinternal cavity 29, and bottom side panel 19 a is not substantiallyperpendicular relative to bottom panel 11. In this configuration, bottomfront lower corner 33 a and bottom back lower corner 35 a are not fullysealed.

In FIG. 3B, friction tab 10 a is partially folded along friction tabcrease 12 a, engaging friction tab edge 20 a with bottom side panel 19 aat bottom front upper corner 31 a, and bottom side panel 19 a is heldsubstantially perpendicular relative to bottom panel 11 and in asubstantially upright position. In this configuration, bottom frontlower corner 33 a and bottom back lower corner 35 a are sealed,preventing leakage of liquid contents from the internal cavity.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, a second corner of an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention is depicted. In FIG. 4A, frictiontab 10 b is not folded along friction tab crease 12 b and top edge 22maintains an unbroken, linear configuration at the second corner. Inthis configuration, the catching mechanism at bottom front upper corner31 b is not engaged, bottom side panel 19 b falls slightly inward towardinternal cavity 29, and bottom side panel 19 b is not substantiallyperpendicular relative to bottom panel 11. In this configuration, bottomfront lower corner 33 b and bottom back lower corner 35 b are not fullysealed.

In FIG. 4B, friction tab 10 b is partially folded along friction tabcrease 12 b, engaging friction tab edge 20 b with the bottom side panel19 b at bottom front upper corner 31 b, and bottom side panel 19 b isheld substantially perpendicular relative to bottom panel 11 and in asubstantially upright position. In this configuration, bottom frontlower corner 33 b and bottom back lower corner 35 b are sealed,preventing leakage of liquid contents from the internal cavity.

In the configurations depicted in FIGS. 3B and 4B, bottom front lowercorners 33 a and 33 b and bottom back lower corners 35 a and 35 b aresealed, enabling a user to store or transport liquids orliquid-containing foods without leakage from the internal cavity. Theseseals are formed when a plurality of catching mechanisms, namely thecatching mechanisms at bottom front upper corners 31 a and 31 b, areengaged. Engagement of these catching mechanisms comprises a userpartially folding friction tabs 10 a and 10 b, respectively, alongfriction tab creases 12 a and 12 b, respectively, so that friction tabedges 20 a and 20 b, respectively, engage bottom side panels 19 a and 19b, respectively.

In alternative embodiments of the present invention, a method mayinclude providing a pre-creased blank made of a foldable substrate asdepicted in FIG. 1A, folding the blank and adhering elements into acontainer in a planar collapsed position as depicted in FIG. 2A, andcompressing and drying the planar collapsed container. The blank may beof the type having a container bottom, wherein the container bottomcomprises a bottom panel, a bottom front panel, a bottom back panel, apair of bottom side panels, and a plurality of catching mechanisms. Thecontainer bottom may comprise front foldable corner panels and backfoldable corner panels. The blank may be of the type having a lidhingedly attached to the container bottom. In this embodiment,engagement of the plurality of catching mechanisms holds the bottom sidepanels substantially perpendicular relative to the bottom panel.

The method may include reconfiguring the planar collapsed container intoan expanded open position as depicted in FIGS. 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E, byunfolding the pair of bottom side panels, unfolding the bottom frontpanel, and unfolding the bottom back panel so they are substantiallyperpendicular relative to the bottom panel, engaging the plurality ofcatching mechanisms, and raising the lid using a hinging mechanism. Inthis embodiment, engaging the plurality of catching mechanisms comprisesfolding along each of the friction tab creases and engaging each of thefriction tab edges with bottom side panels to hold the bottom sidepanels substantially perpendicular relative to the bottom panel and in asubstantially upright position. The method may include filling thecontainer in its expanded open position with food. The method may alsoinclude reconfiguring the filled container from the expanded openposition depicted in FIG. 2E to the expanded closed position depicted inFIG. 1B for storage or transportation by lowering the lid using ahinging mechanism.

In general, a method of using the apparatus may include partiallyfolding one or more friction tabs to form catching mechanisms, sealingthe internal cavity to prevent fluid leakage.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus and methods described above,and the various representative embodiments which have been described indetail herein, are set forth by way of example and not of limitation. Itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that changes may be madein the form and details of the described embodiments resulting inequivalent embodiments that remain within the scope of the presentinvention. The order or presentation of method steps above is notintended to require this order of performing the recited steps.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container comprising: a container bottom,wherein the container bottom comprises a bottom panel, a bottom frontpanel, a bottom back panel, a pair of bottom side panels, and aplurality of catching mechanisms, wherein engagement of the plurality ofcatching mechanisms holds the bottom side panels substantiallyperpendicular relative to the bottom panel.
 2. The container of claim 1,wherein each of the plurality of catching mechanisms comprises afriction tab, a friction tab crease, and a friction tab edge.
 3. Thecontainer of claim 2, wherein an expanded position comprises each of thefriction tabs folded along each of the friction tab creases and each ofthe friction tab edges engaged with the bottom side panels, holding thebottom side panels substantially perpendicular relative to the bottompanel and in a substantially upright position.
 4. The container of claim3, wherein the bottom front panel comprises a pair of friction tabs. 5.The container of claim 4, wherein the bottom back panel comprises a pairof friction tabs.
 6. The container of claim 5, wherein the containerbottom comprises a pair of front foldable corner panels and a pair ofback foldable corner panels.
 7. A container comprising: a containerbottom; and a lid, wherein the container bottom comprises a bottompanel, a bottom front panel, a bottom back panel, a pair of bottom sidepanels, and a plurality of catching mechanisms, wherein engagement ofthe plurality of catching mechanisms holds the bottom side panelssubstantially perpendicular relative to the bottom panel.
 8. Thecontainer of claim 7, wherein the lid comprises a lid top panel, a lidfront panel, a pair of lid side panels, a pair of lid foldable cornerpanels, and a pair of lid front panel flaps, and the container bottomcomprises a pair of front foldable corner panels and a pair of backfoldable corner panels.
 9. The container of claim 8, wherein the lid ishingedly attached to the container bottom.
 10. The container of claim 9,wherein the lid comprises a lid top panel window.
 11. The container ofclaim 10, wherein each of the plurality of catching mechanisms comprisesa friction tab, a friction tab crease, and a friction tab edge.
 12. Thecontainer of claim 11, wherein an expanded position comprises each ofthe friction tabs folded along each of the friction tab creases and eachof the friction tab edges engaged with the bottom side panels, holdingthe bottom side panels substantially perpendicular relative to thebottom panel and in a substantially upright position.
 13. The containerof claim 12, wherein the bottom front panel comprises a pair of frictiontabs.
 14. The container of claim 13, wherein the bottom back panelcomprises a pair of friction tabs.
 15. A method comprising: providing apre-creased blank made of a foldable substrate, the blank being of thetype having: a container bottom, wherein the container bottom comprisesa bottom panel, a bottom front panel, a bottom back panel, a pair ofbottom side panels, and a plurality of catching mechanisms, whereinengagement of the plurality of catching mechanisms holds the bottom sidepanels substantially perpendicular relative to the bottom panel; andfolding the blank into a container in a collapsed position by foldingand adhering some elements.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein theblank comprises a lid hingedly attached to the container bottom.
 17. Themethod of claim 16 further comprising reconfiguring the planar collapsedcontainer into an expanded position by unfolding the pair of bottom sidepanels, unfolding the bottom front panel, and unfolding the bottom backpanel to reconfigure them to be substantially perpendicular relative tothe bottom panel, and engaging the plurality of catching mechanisms. 18.The method of claim 17, wherein engaging the plurality of catchingmechanisms comprises folding along each of the friction tab creases andengaging each of the friction tab edges with bottom side panels to holdthe bottom side panels substantially perpendicular relative to thebottom panel and in a substantially upright position.
 19. The method ofclaim 18 further comprising filling the container in its expandedposition with food.
 20. The method of claim 19 further comprisingreconfiguring the filled container to an expanded closed position bylowering the lid using a hinging mechanism.